Meadowlark Prairie codeine scene

roan’s sharp gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, unblinking and heavy. her words challenged him, tested the simplicity of his belief, but his response was not verbal. instead, he huffed, the sound low and guttural, a dismissive exhalation that filled the air between them.

his expression hardened, as if carved from stone, but there was something flickering beneath it—something unspoken that her words had stirred. no, his look seemed to say, not always protect. the reality was harsher than that. men could fail, could harm, could destroy as easily as they could shield.

his eyes flicked briefly to her injured limb, then back to her face. there was no pity in his gaze, only acknowledgment of what had been done to her and the weight of her gratitude now offered in return. he gave no reply to her thanks, only a small nod, curt and measured, it is what men should do.